Those of us who tend to view life through a magickal lens know we each have, to some degree or another, the power to change our circumstances. This is why I lean towards using the cards (Tarot, Lenormand, Playing cards or Oracle cards) for self-understanding rather than prediction — although there certainly are times when prediction is exactly what is needed!

On that note, last Sunday morning, after yet another night of mindless munching in front of the television set, I pulled out my recently-acquired Celtic Lenormand card deck by Chloe McCracken and Will Worthington and asked (in a pitiful, whiny voice): “WHY am I overeating when I really want to lose weight?!”

I decided to cast a Lenormand Square of 9 where Row 1 would represent the problem, Row 2 would give the solution, and Row 3 would provide advice or further commentary. Additional information gleaned from the way the cards fell would be icing on the cake (Gahhhhhhh!!!)

Row 1 – The Problem: 1 Rider, 19 Tower, 15 Bear

Since 15 BEAR, an appropriate card for weight gain, falls at the end of Row 1, I sensed the first two cards in the row were the factors leading up to the condition of being overweight: namely, lack of movement (RIDER) and isolation (TOWER). As usual, the Lenormand cards pulled no punches. I spend too much time alone (TOWER) and I don’t move around enough (RIDER).

Row 2 – The Solution: 33 Key, 2 Clover, 12 Birds

The solution (KEY) is to look for opportunities (CLOVER) to socialize (BIRDS), particularly in the evenings (I noticed the Moon on the BIRDS card), which is when I do most of my overeating.

My key to dieting success (KEY) would be to focus on salads, leafy green vegetables (CLOVER) and fowl (i.e., chicken & turkey) (BIRDS). Low-carb dieting came to mind. I’d had success with that approach in the past and these cards suggested I’d profit from giving it another try.

Row 3 – Advice, Factors to Consider: 17 Storks, 25 Ring, 34 Fish

The first two cards, STORKS and RING, seemed easy enough to interpret: “positive changes come with commitment” or “commitment is needed to bring about positive changes.”34 FISH at the end of the row threw me off. Eat more fish? That would go along with the low-carb dieting approach indicated in Row 2.

Perhaps FISH was also referencing the concept of “quality over quantity” (FISH is plentiful, expansive). Maybe if I were to focus more on the quality of the food I eat, I’ll have a better shot at reaching my goals.

Additional Info I Pulled from this Reading:

In addition to socializing, BIRDS represent electronic communication, the media and anything that travels over the airwaves including television. I couldn’t help but notice that Row 3 read vertically (BEAR + BIRDS + FISH) suggested “an excess (FISH) of television watching (BIRDS) leading to weight gain (BEAR).”

True dat.

Conversely, FISH + BIRDS + BEAR suggested an expansion (FISH) of social activity (BIRDS) could help resolve the weight issue (BEAR). This also rang true. Maybe I could schedule evening activities once or twice a week to break up the pattern. A Continuing Ed dance class? A Meet-Up group? Those ideas had crossed my mind before, not that I had given them much more than a passing thought.

2 CLOVER, the central card in the Lenormand Square of 9, seemed to be showing me that a wealth of opportunities to get a handle on my problem existed. Move around more (RIDER). Stop isolating yourself (TOWER). Get out more often & socialize (BIRDS). Improve the quality of your eating (STORKS, FISH, BEAR); eat more greens (CLOVER), fowl (BIRDS) and fish (FISH). Commit (RING) to a diet plan that will bring you success/ improvements (KEY, STORKS).

Lenormand Clarification Cards for Weight Loss

The information I pulled out of the reading wasn’t dramatic. Rather, it was quite matter-of-fact. Lenormand cards are known for “telling it like it is” and they rarely beat around the bush. This is an attribute I very much appreciate. That notwithstanding, it didn’t stop me from wondering whether the cards had anything else to say, so I decided to pull clarification cards using my go-to method, which is to add up the card values in the spread and reduce them to a number equaling 36 or below:

I immediately noticed two things: all that food laid out so temptingly on the blanket in the GARDEN card — and the fact that the FOX was looking right, toward the CLOUDS. Despite the food feast on the GARDEN card, I also had to consider its standard meanings: socializing, parties, public activities, etc.

“If you’re trying to convince yourself this is not about overeating (GARDEN), you are deceiving yourself (FOX + CLOUDS).”

Once again, in plain language, the Lenormand cards provided a highly informative analysis regarding a matter of concern. With CLOVER as the central card in this Square of 9, I realized I’d need to act on the messages Lenormand so graciously provided, and not just let the “wealth of opportunities” to resolve my issue fade away from lack of attention.

**********************************************

“An opportunity is only positive if we seize it; otherwise, it will disappear as quickly as it came.” -Celtic Lenormand LWB (Little White Book) re: 2 CLOVER

***********************************************

***Note from Mary: The reading prompted me to start the Atkins “40” low carb diet plan which is a “tweak” of the plan outlined in “The New Atkins for a New You,” link below. Wish me luck 🙂

As to whether my social calendar will begin to fill up, that remains to be seen…

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

***Another Note: The Celtic Lenormand card deck offers three versions for 12 BIRDS: Songbirds, Chickens and Owls. Chickens would have really driven home the message about eating fowl, but if I hadn’t pre-selected Owls as the BIRDS card, I would have missed the “night-time eating” clue provided by the Moon on the Owls card image.

The Celtic Lenormand card deck features three versions of 12 BIRDS: Songbirds, Chickens and Owls

As anyone who’s ever cast and read a simple three card Past-Present-Future spread knows, the cards can certainly “speak” to something that has happened in the past, as well as suggest the probable future concerning the question(s) at hand.

I normally use astrology to ascertain the energies surrounding missing person cases. From time to time, however, when prompted, I may also throw a card spread or two, to clarify, confirm or refute information I’ve gleaned from astrological analysis.

If you follow missing persons cases, you likely know that on July 10, 2015 in Leadore, Idaho, DeOrr Kunz, Jr., a healthy 2-1/2 year old child, disappeared into nowhere while on a camping trip with his mother, father, great-grandpa and family friend. As of the date and time of this post, DeOrr Kunz, Jr. has not been found.

DeOrr Kunz, Jr. missing from Leadore, Idaho July 10, 2015

Theories as to what happened to this child include (in no particular order): stranger abduction; harm suffered at the hands of one or more of the caretakers and subsequent cover-up; wandering away from the campsite and either (a) drowning or (b) getting carried off by a mountain lion.

The problem with all these theories is that there is no credible evidence that any of them could have happened. Yet, on the other hand, children (or adults for that matter) simply do not “disappear into nowhere.”

So what really happened here?

I’m not going to go into what I first ascertained from careful analysis of the pertinent astrology charts other than to say that there were strong indications of death, likely due to drowning. A few days later, still mulling over the charts and their “testimony,” it occurred to me that perhaps a Lenormand Square of 9 could provide additional information. I cast the spread specifically to address these questions:

The Questions for Lenormand:

What (really) happened to DeOrr Kunz, Jr.?

Who (or what) is responsible?

Will he be found?

I pre-decided that the cards in Row 1 would address the first question, the cards in Row 2 would address the second question and the cards in Row 3 would address the third question. Any other information I could gather from the way the cards fell would be a bonus.

What Happened? 11 WHIP – 23 MICE – 6 CLOUDS

These cards suggested a frantic runaround: frenzied activity, running around in circles, stress, exhaustion, confusion. In simplest terms, the Lenormand cards seemed to suggest that the child wandered off and got lost.

Who (or What) is Responsible? 34 FISH – 12 BIRDS – 17 STORKS

I immediately keyed into the people cards: King of Diamonds (34 FISH) and Queen of Hearts (17 STORKS) — dad and mom. With 12 BIRDS in the middle of the row and as the central card in the Square of 9, there was likely a communication issue with Great-Grandpa (King of Spades – 30 LILIES), who from news accounts may have been suffering from some degree of confusion (6 CLOUDS). Because of the positioning of 23 MICE + 6 CLOUDS, I sensed a miscommunication or a lack of communication.

It’s interesting to note this row starts with 34 FISH. The “story” surrounding DeOrr’s disappearance is that the mom, dad and family friend decided to go fishing. The parents allegedly asked the child if he wanted to come along or stay behind with Great-Grandpa (30 LILIES) and DeOrr chose Great-Grandpa, who somehow lost track of DeOrr (6 CLOUDS) and then mistakenly assumed the child had changed his mind and followed the parents.

Will the Child Be Found? 30 LILIES – 21 MOUNTAIN – 16 STARS

Both LILIES and MOUNTAIN suggest a long time, with MOUNTAIN additionally suggesting obstacles and delays. [Note: LILIES can sometimes be a death marker. WHIP, FISH and LILIES read vertically suggests a struggle in water that leads to the grave.]16 STARS at the end of the row points to success, so I think, yes, DeOrr Kunz, Jr. will eventually be recovered, after a “long time” and many delays and obstacles.

I noted with interest that the card numbers assigned to Row 3 reduce to 13 (30 + 21 + 16 = 67 = 6 + 7 = 13), which equals 13 CHILD. That prompted me to flip over cards in the remaining Lenormand deck until I found 13 CHILD, which I selected along with the card before and the card after:

This combination suggests the child may have suffered an accident or, in some other way, was suddenly separated him from his caregivers (SCYTHE) while “on a journey / taking a walk” (CROSSROADS). The cards appear to support the message contained in Row 1 which indicated the child simply wandered away and got lost. Unfortunately, SCYTHE to the right of CHILD does not point to an eventual happy resolution.

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Living with Cards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.